Portland church raises $7,500 to restore bell, steeple

Tuesday

Aug 26, 2014 at 6:49 PMAug 26, 2014 at 6:50 PM

First Congregational Church is within 70 percent of $140K goal

Staff Reports

Since their steeple bell was removed last September, members of First Congregational Church have been raising money to put it back up.A church bell is the heart and soul of any Christian congregation, said Tom Huggler, chairman of the church's board of trustees."In addition to summoning the faithful to worship, it is a constant reminder to trust in the Lord and to do His will," Huggler said. "The steeple points the way to heaven and to the salvation that awaits God's promise to believers. Without a steeple and bell, one could argue that a church is just another building in the community."That's why First Congregational Church voted unanimously to restore the 100-year-old bell and 70-foot-high steeple, and to raise or borrow the $140,000 needed for the project.A communitywide rummage sale Aug. 15-16 brought in $7,500 for the steeple fund. Fifteen vendors sold merchandise during the two-day event that included food concessions and sale of church cookbooks and T-shirts, and concluded with a pork roast barbecue enjoyed by 120 members and friends of the church, Huggler said.The event put the church at almost 70 percent of its fundraising goal."We are closing in on $100,000, and are likely going to borrow the rest," Huggler said, adding that there also could be additional fundraisers.Construction on the steeple is expected to begin after Labor Day and will take about a month to complete.The 1,313-pound bell — part of the church since 1906 — recently returned from the Verdin Bell Co. in Cincinnati, where it received a new, all-steel A-frame at a cost $4,975. The bell will be delivered to the church on the day the general contractor is ready with a crane for installation."It is in the custody of a church member who wishes to remain anonymous, and is being stored in a protected location in the Portland area," said Huggler.First Congregational Church, with its Greek Revival architectural design that includes the four-spired steeple, is the only Portland building listed in the National Register of Historic Places, he said. The church's steeple was razed after structural engineers discovered potentially dangerous deterioration from the roof to the foundation.The church welcomes additional donations to the project. Contributions may be dropped off at the church office or mailed to 421 E. Bridge St., Portland, MI 48875.